Understand your prospective dog's breed/temperament before you buy: if you want a quiet dog don't go for a Samoyed, for instance, since they are very vocal. A Border Collie is not a good idea if you simply want a quiet companion - they are workaholics!

Start training your puppy as soon as you get him home - don't wait until he is 6 months old and a nightmare!

 Rather than asking yourself "How do I stop my dog .....(jumping up, chasing etc)? " try thinking in terms of "What would I rather my dog did in this situation?" For example, teach your dog to sit when greeting people instead of telling him off for jumping up.

 Use positive reward methods for training - harsh handling does nothing for the relationship between you and your dog and can do a great deal of damage.

 Praise/reward your dog for good behaviour and either ignore or distract bad behaviour.

 If you have a problem with your dog think of using management to help you solve it. For instance, leaving a puppy loose in the house when it is not house trained is asking for trouble. Confining it somewhere where very little damage can be done, (the kitchen or an indoor kennel) when not supervised is a much better idea.

 Keep training sessions short and fun. Make it worth your dog's while to do things for you - use toys, play, treats. Your dog will learn far more that way and enjoy it too.

 Always praise good behaviour - don't take it for granted.

 Please, please - clean up after your dog!